Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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X ~Sch/gn/102 ~lC-J
A METHOI) AND AN APPAR~'rllS FO~ ACTlVATING A METAL SURFACE
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The inYention has for its object to offer a method
using which a metal surface displays improved properties.
These improved properties are in particular an improved flow
of lacquer or the like over the surface, the adhesion of this
lacquer to that surface and a general improvement in the
lacquering and printing qualities of a metal surface.
According to a known method the metal surface is
subjected to a heat treatment. It has been found that this
treatment can achieve the sought after effects reasonably
effectively. The method does however have the drawback of
being expensive.
With another method the surface is subjected for a
short time to a flame or a very short-lasting heat pulse.
Such a method has the drawback of not always being completely
manageable.
The invention now provides a method for activating
a metal surface, for example for improving the flow of lac-
quer over and/or the adhesion of lacquer to a tin surface,
comprising the steps of~
1) providing a lightly greased or oiIed~metal
surface, for example the surface of a tin plate or strip, ~
2) subjecting that metal surface to a corona dis-
charge through application of an alternating voltage between
that metal surface and a conductor situated thereabove.
It is noted that the use of a corona discharge for
treating plastic surfaces is known.
It will be apparent that in the case of an electri-
cally conducting product or article, for example a tin plate
or strip, this product can be carried over a conducting base,
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~or e~ample while simultaneously being pressed thereon by
pressure rollers, whereby the conductor extends in a trans-
verse direction relative to the transporting direction of the
product. ~lereby achieved in a continuous through-feed is that
one o both surEaces of the product can be treated. I~ re-
~uired both sides of the product can be consecutively treated
in one line.
It is noted that many products are already ligh-tly
greased or oiled durin~ manufacture. The purpose of such a
treatment can on the one hand be to provide a certain lubri-
cation whereby the surfaces o~ the plates for stacking can
slide over each other more easily, while on the other hand
the greasy covering layer can form an oxygen barrier in order
to counter corrosion.
~ frequency in the order of 15-40 kHz is preferably
used.
The corona voltage can be in the order of 10 kV.
~ ith a method wherein the metal surface is carried
past a transverse conductor which is provided with a dielec-
tric jacket, a well functioning corona treatment can be
effectively performed and nevertheless avoid the danger of
sparkover. The dielectric covering layer or jacket ensures a
high strength of field and a good homogeneity of the corona
discharge.
Very good results are achieved with a corona dis-
charge wherein the energy density lies between 45 and 90
watts per running centimetre of transverse conductor. Below
this region the effectiveness of the treatment is irregular,
while above this value a certain "saturation" occurs. In
other words, it is well possible to increase the energy
density but this is not accompanied by increasing effective-
ness of the treatment and is therefore undesirable from an
economic point of view.
In preference a method is used wherein the grease
or oil concentration lies in the order of 0.8-15 mg per mZ.
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Use can particularly be made of ester-based lubricants such
as DOS ( dioctyl sebacate) ATBC tacetyl tributyl citrate)
and/or BSO ~butyl stearate~palmitate).
The dielectric can comprise for example sinter
materials, plastics such as hypalon and/or silicon rubbers,
alone or in combination.
The corona discharge can advantageously take place in
the surrounding air. As a consequence of the corona
discharge a part of the oxygen present in the air is
converted into ozone. This ozone can bring about a chemical
activation of the metal surface.
Use can also be made of additonal reactive components,
e.g. a reactive gas such as chlorine, one or more amines,
aldehydes, and/or unsaturated organic compounds. These
compounds generally have to be of the type capable of
starting radical-reactions. The types mentioned as examples
are capable thereof.
A good effectiveness is acquired with a method wherein
the distance chosen between the metal surface and the
conductor is a maximum of approximately 1.5 mm.
It has been found that the distance chosen between the
metal surface and the electrode is preferably smaller the
higher the frequency chosen.
In order to cause the homogeneity of the treatment
over the surface to be as good as possible the method is
recommended in which steps are taken to ensure the flatness
of the metal surface at the location of the conductor such
that the distance between the metal surface and the
conductor is substantially constant.
This method can for example be performed such that the
article of which the metal surface forms a part can be held
by making use of underpressure on a supporting surface, for
example a perforated or divided endless conveyor belt with
an underpressure source connected thereunder.
3s The article or product of which the metal surface is a
part can also be held on a supporting surface by using
magnetic forces.
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It is also possible to roll the plate beforehand.
The invention further relates to an apparatus intended
for performing the above described method. This apparatus
comprises:
1) means for the positioning of an article with a
metal surface;
2) a conductor to be placed in the vicinity of that
metal surface; and
3) means for applying an alternating voltage between
the metal surface and the conductor such that a corona
discharge takes place between both.
Finally, the invention relates to the use of the
apparatus specified in the previous paragraph for performing
the method according to the invention.
The invention further relates to an article or product
having a metal surface which is treated with one of the
methods described above.
The invention can be used for improving the properties
of a matal surface on which it is the wish to lacquer and/or
print.
The surface in question can form part o~ an arti~_le or
product (semi-manufactures such as metal plates or strips)~ -
tin ~iron with a covering layer of tin), aluminium,
chrome-passivated steel or ECCS (electro-chromium coated
steel) or pure steel or 'Iblackplate". ~
The treatment according to the invention gives~great
durability in the lacquering and printing qualities. Tests
have demonstrated that up to approximately four months afier
the treatment no decrease whatever can be discerned in the
lacquering and/or printing qualities. It is thus apparent
that the method according to the invention leads to a very
stable result.
The invention will now be explained with reference to
the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal section o~ an
apparatus according to the invention;
Figure 2 partially in side elevation and partially in
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longitudinal section according to figure 1 a total transport
and treating apparatus having an apparatus according to
figure l;
Figure 3 is a rear elevation, i.e. an elevation view
at the output side of the apparatus according to figure 2;
and
Figure ~1 is a perspective view of a corona-electrode.
A supply conveyor 1 serves for supplying in a supply
pinch 2 flat metal plates 3 between the pinch of two supply
rollers 4, 5, said roller 4 being driven by an electro-motor
6 in a manner to be herein described below, and said roller
5 being spring-loaded in the direction of supply roller 4
and being freely rotatable.
The convey- or transport-direction of metal plates 3
is indicated with an arrow 7.
Downstream relative to rollers 4, 5 the roller pairs
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, 15 are positioned. Rollers 8,
10, 12, 14 are simultaneously with supply roller 4 driven by
means of a chain 1 by means of electro-motor 6. Between the
respective rollers 4, 8, 10, 12 and 14 reversing rollers
indicated with 17 are arranged.
Said rollers 9, 11, 13, 15 are spring-loaded in the
direction of the driven rollers 8, 10, 12, 14. Thus a
positive transport of the conveyed plates 3 to be treated is
ensured.
The apparatus 18 according to the invention and shown
in figures 1, 2 comprises two corona-stations 19, 20.~
Station 19 treats plates in the region between the roller
pairs 8, 9 and 10, 11, whilst station 20 is arranged
downstream relative thereof and sub;ects the plates treated
by station 19 to another corona-treatment in the region
between roller pairs 12, 13 and 14, 15.
The corona-stations 19, 20 are identical. For the sa~e
of ease therefore only station 19 will be discussed.
During the transport of metal pIates 3 by the
apparatus 18 the plates are carried by support bars 21 (ses
figure 3). In this connection it also should~be noted that
3~
rollers 8-15 are actually designed as shown in figure 3,
namely each as rows of nine rollers arranged on one common
shaft. Figure 3 shows the rows of rollers 14 alld 15.
The corona-station 19 (and 20) comprises six corona-
electrodes 22. Such an electrode ls shown on an enlargedscale in figure 4 and comprises a rest-proof core 24 and a
ceramic ~acket 24. The corona-electrodes 22 are arranged in
a common horizontal plain on a certain distance of support
bars 21, in such a way that they have also a desired
distance relative to the conveyed metal plates 3. By means
of a cable 25 the corona-electrodes 22 are connected with an
adjustable high-tension generator 26, the earth side of
which is connected with earth, of the total frame, of the
apparatus 18. Also support bars 21 are conductively
connected with said frame, such that the high-tension
generator 26 generates a high tension between the cores 23
of the corona-electrodes 22, on the one hand, and the upper
surface of the ~ransported metal plates 3, on the other
hand, which, as mentioned, shift during transport by rollers
8-15 electrically conductive lay over support bars 21.
As a result of the presence of the dielectric ceramic
jacket 24 between this jacket 24 and the upper surface of
a passing metal plate 3 a strong electric field is
generated. As a result thereof this mentioned upper surface
of the related metal plate is sub;ected to a
corona-discharge.
In corona-station 19 the full surface is subjected by
six successive electrodes 22 to six corona-treatments,
followed by the same series of treatments in corona-station
20.
A hood 27 serves as cover for the corona-stations 19,
20. The hood can be hingedly removed by means of a hinge 28
into the position shown with interrupted lines and indicated
with 27'. In this position the interior of the apparatus is
excessible, e.g. for service purposes.
Over electrodes 22 fan-means 29 are arranged for
sucking off ozone-gas generated by the corona-discharge. The
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poisonous ozone-gas can, by means of means not-shown be
removed to a place, where is it harmless.
It will be obvious that the len~ths of the
corona-electrodes 22 has to be at least equal to the width
of the conveyed metal plates 3.
